Former Libertas candidate fails to show in court

A FORMER Euro election candidate for Libertas who allegedly failed to take down posters in Wexford, did not appear at Wexford District Court last week.

Raymond O'Malley, Purcellstown House, Ardree, Co Louth, was prosecuted under the Litter Pollution Act by Wexford County Council over three posters that remained on public display in Kilmore, Barntown and Tagoat more than seven days after the European Election last June.

Caitriona Walsh, solicitor for the Council said she wrote to the defendant by certified post but there was no response.. He was not in court.

Caitriona O' Sullivan from the Council's environment department said on-the-spot fines were served by registered post but they were not paid. The county manager then signed an order to take court proceedings.

After hearing that the penalty was ¤3,000 or imprisonment, Judge Donnchadh O Buachalla said he was adjourning the case once more so that a registered letter could be sent to the defendant, giving him an opportunity to attend and give an explanation.